“I wanted to kick her.”
“You must never do that, son. That’s not how I’ve taught you to behave is it?”
“Okay. I’ve been on green at school all week and I don’t want to mess it up.”
“Good boy.”
Contentment despite the emotional upheaval of the morning filled him as his son leaned over and hugged him around his waist hard. Easing PJ into a life that included Lucy and Beck was requiring patience but Patrick knew it would be worth it.
PJ jumped down from the corner booth and said, “I’m gonna go potty and wash my hands. Can I go alone like a big boy?”
Patrick looked around the nearly empty establishment and nodded because he knew no men had entered the restroom since they’d been there. “Sure.”
As soon as he was gone, Lucy squeezed his hand, giggling. “I think you handled his questions well.”
Patrick shrugged and smiled, feeling far from father-of-the-year status, especially after the argument with his dad. Nothing like a steaming-hot serving of guilt to make him question all his decisions since going out on his own.
Beck leaned forward and asked, “What did your dad want?”
With a long sigh, Patrick replied, “To let me know what a disappointment I am to him.”
Lucy frowned. “That’s harsh. Did he at least try to understand?”
“He’s more concerned with appearances and how fast the gossip will spread.”
“And your mom?”
“Privately, my mom just wants me to be happy. Publicly, I’m not sure she’d go against anything my dad says.” He turned to Lucy and said, “Dad told me that I need to force you to make a choice between the two of us.”
“And what did you tell him?”
Patrick appreciated that she never even considered that he might actually have considered that.
“I told him no way in hell. I’m an adult and he has no say. He threatened to cut me from his will if I pursue this relationship and I told him he could stick his will up his ass.”
“Ouch. I’ll bet he didn’t appreciate that,” Beck said with a chuckle.
Lucy tilted her head and looked from him to Beck and back. “Is it worth it to you? All the hassle? Losing your inheritance?”
He saw the trace of uncertainty in her eyes. He caressed the top of her hand as Beck took the other one. “It’s worth it, Luce. Don’t ever think it isn’t. He’ll have to get over it. I can’t live to please my family. They’ve interfered long enough. And the inheritance probably won’t amount to much. He can keep his money.”
Beck leaned toward her, kissed her temple, and said, “We knew this would be challenging going into it. I’m glad someone else is acting like an asshole for a change.” Lucy looked at Patrick as though she was fighting laughter and Beck added, “Come on, this is where you’re supposed to jump to my defense and tell me I’m not an asshole.”
They all laughed but then Lucy turned to him and patted his cheek. “You’re possessive, territorial, and a bit of a caveman at times, Beck, but you’re not an asshole.” The love was palpable between them as Beck tilted his forehead to hers and then kissed the top of her head as PJ rejoined them.
Chapter Fifteen
“Oh, holy shit,” Lucy whispered when she finished lacing up the black leather halter corset. “This is even better than the last one.”
“I want to see,” Teresa whispered through the door. “Get out here.” Lucy smiled at her enthusiastic giggle.
“Hang on, eager beaver,” Lucy said as she turned sideways and looked at the black leather skirt from the side. The side seams were open, showing a two-inch-wide strip of bare flesh where the crisscrossing drawstrings were the only covering.
“Teresa, I’m going to need a black G-string to go with this.”
“I’ll get you one that’ll fit. Come on, I want to see.”
Lucy ran her hand over her stomach and threw her shoulders back, winked at herself and then opened the door. Teresa gasped and beckoned her out so she was standing in front of the full-length, winged mirror.
“Oh, Lucy! That’s…I think words escape me.” Teresa stood back with her hand caressing her large baby belly, her eyes sparkling as she looked Lucy over.
“This is going to look fantastic at the ROT Rally.”
Lucy felt like she was worth about a million bucks as she stared at her reflection and turned from side to side.
Teresa went behind her, slung her long hair forward over one shoulder, and took hold of the strings at the back, jerked firmly and the retied the bows at the waist and said, “There, even better now. You look so hot, Lucy. I’ll bet Beck and Patrick drool when they see you in this.”